The rate of price rise of food items was 14.20 percent in the corresponding week of 2010.

As per data released by the government on Thursday, vegetables became 25 percent costlier, year-on-year basis. Similarly, Fruits grew dearer by 11.96 per cent, milk by 10.85 percent and eggs, meat and fish by 12.82 percent.

Pulses also became dearer by 9.06 per cent and cereal prices were up 4.62 per cent year-on-year.

However, onions became 18.93 cheaper. Wheat prices were also down 0.95, and potatoes by 0.45 percent during the week under review.

As for weekly comparison, inflation in the overall primary articles category was 11.75 percent for the week ended October 15, compared to 11.18 percent in the previous week. Primary articles have over 20 percent weight in WPI.

Inflation in non-food articles, including fibres, oil seeds and minerals, was recorded at 7.67 percent during the week under review, as against 8.51 per cent in the week ended October 8.

Fuel and power inflation stood at 14.70 percent during the week under review, compared to 15.17 percent in the previous week.

The upsurge in food prices is likely to exert further pressure on the government and the Reserve Bank to tackle the situation expeditiously.

Headline inflation, which also factors in manufactured items, has been above the 9 percent mark since December, 2010. It was 9.72 percent in September this year.

RBI has hiked interest rates 13 times since March, 2010, to tame demand and curb inflation.

In its second quarterly review of the monetary policy earlier this week, the apex bank said it expects inflation to remain elevated till December on account of demand-supply mismatch, before moderating to 7 percent by March 2012.